Locator Software Installation

Locator is delivered either as a self-contained downloadable installation program or on a USB flash drive, depending on which type of license you purchase. In either case, you will receive an installation program called Locator_Installer.msi that you will need to run as administrator. When you run the installer, you will be presented with a Welcome Screen asking you to confirm that you want to proceed with installation. After you click Next to proceed, you will be asked to accept the Software License Agreement. Finally, on the Confirm Installation screen, you will be asked to reconfirm that you wish to install the software. After confirming, you will see the Installing Locator screen indicating that Locator is being installed.

After the process has completed, you will see an acknowledgement that installation has been completed.

If you want to uninstall Locator, you must use the Add or Remove Programs tool found in Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps.  

The installation process will place an icon on the current user’s Windows desktop to access the program. If you click the Windows Start button or press the Windows key on your keyboard and then type Locator, you will see a link to launch the Locator app.

Locator launch button shown when you type Locator from Windows Start menu.

Folders Created by the Installation Procedure

Folders	Contents
C:\Program Files\Cortech Solutions\Digitizer	The Locator application (.exe) and its required DLLs and other resources
C:\ProgramData\Cortech Solutions\Locator\head_model	The New York Head in various 3D file formats
C:\ProgramData\Cortech Solutions\Locator\probe_template	A selection of pre-built electrode probe files that have been coregistered with the New York Head
C:\ProgramData\Cortech Solutions\Locator\sequence	A selection of pre-built electrode digitization sequences
C:\ProgramData\Cortech Solutions\Locator\Sound\female voice	Pre-recorded sound files in a female voice for each of the electrodes in the provided probe and sequence files
C:\ProgramData\Cortech Solutions\Locator\Sound\male voice	Pre-recorded sound files in a male voice for each of the electrodes in the provided probe and sequence files

License Activation

The Locator software license can be activated in one of two ways:

Activate USB License

Requirements:

• Installed HASP USB driver (required before plugging in the USB dongle)
  
• Plug in the HASP USB license key (with red LED illuminated)
  
• Locator.hkey file (USB hardlock license activation file)

Steps:

1. Install the HASP USB driver.
   
   • The HASP USB license key driver will be provided with the Locator installation media, whether you download the installer or we provide a USB flash drive containing the media. Double-click on the file install_HASP.bat to install the HASP driver. Running haspdinst.exe directly WILL NOT install the driver. The file Haspdinst.exe will be provided with the Locator installation media, whether you download the installer or we provide a USB flash drive containing the media.
     
   • This must be done before plugging in the USB license key.
     
2. Insert the HASP USB license key into a USB port.
   
   • If the driver is installed, the red LED on the USB key should illuminate.
     
3. Click “Activate USB License.”
   
4. A file dialog will open. Navigate to the location of your Locator.hkey file.
   
   • If you purchased a perpetual EMSE Locator 2.0 license (model SA-EM-MOLO, dated after August 1, 2025): The file is on the USB flash drive included with your package.
     
   • If you upgraded to Locator 2.0 from an earlier version: The file was sent via email. Save it to your computer before proceeding.
     
5. Select the Locator.hkey file → Click OK.
   
6. If successful, a notification will confirm activation. You can now use Locator.

Activate Machine License

The machine license binds the license to the computer where the software is installed (no dongle required).

If you purchased a one-year Machine License (model SA-EM-MOSLO), you will activate it using the 3-Step Machine License procedure. This process begins with the invoice (sales order) number from your purchase.

If you ordered online, you should have received an email with your invoice/sales order number and activation instructions.

Selecting this option in Locator 2.0 opens the 3-Step License Activation dialog.

In the 3-Step License Activation dialog:

• Step 1: Enter the Order Code provided by Cortech Solutions in the first field and click Apply.

• Step 2: A Machine Code will appear in the second field

Next, you will need to login at cortechsolutions.com using the same email address / account under which you purchased the software, and then visit the page cortechsolutions.com/emse-machine-license/ where you will see a link to the licensing page:

Clicking the Access Customer Care Portal link will take you to the Machine License activation page:

Enter the sales order / invoice number we provided, and the Machine Code that the 3-step licensing dialog displayed in the Machine Code field. The form will then provide you with an Activation code that you can paste into the Activation Code field in the 3-Step License Activation dialog in Locator.

• Step 3: Paste the Activation code displayed on the form to the Activation Code field in the dialog, and then click Apply.

If all of the steps were completed correctly, the “Activated modules: Locator” message appears, click OK to start using the software.

If you encounter any problems with this procedure, please contact EMSEsupport@cortechsolutions.com with your sales order / invoice number, the email address of the purchaser, and a description of the problem or error message you are experiencing. 

License Status

Selecting this menu item will display a dialog in which the current status of your license will be displayed. This will let you know whether your license is active or inactive and how long you have before it expires. 

Help > About Locator 

This option will display a dialog in which the version number and build number of the installed Locator software will be displayed. This information may be requested if you report a software bug or a licensing issue.

YouTube Video Covering Installation and License Activation

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EMSE’s Development Plan emerges from three main streams. First, we listen to your needs and requests (e.g., you might show us what you want during a remote technical/scientific support session). Second, we periodically update and upgrade existing features (e.g., update of boundary element head models; upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit code). Third, we’re envisioning an integrative role for EMSE in the larger field of human neurophysiology and neuroimaging, so that: (a) EMSE shall perform live analysis and automatic archiving during data acquisition; and (b) EMSE shall cooperate with other tools in an ecosystem based on FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles.

EMSE is developed by Cortech Solutions. We are an agile team with more than 50 years combined experience in the field. Principal developers are Mark Pflieger and Li Gao, who have worked on the EMSE project for 17+ years and 21+ years, respectively. Richard Greenblatt initiated the EMSE project in the early 1990s with roots from the MEG community.

EMSE reads all major research EEG and MEG data formats.

No. EMSE is a self-contained graphical program written in C++ “under the hood” for efficiency. To optimize the speed of standard matrix and math operations, EMSE leverages the Intel® Math Kernel Library.

No, EMSE is modular. The ERP Bundle (Data Editor plus Visualizer) is a powerful and affordable package for discovering and confirming space-time-frequency phenomena at the scalp level, with integrated nonparametric statistics. The Basic Source Estimation Bundle adds the Source Estimator module for brain level modeling. The Locator module digitizes electrode locations, which may be co-registered with MRI using MR Viewer. The Image Processor module can segment head tissues for constructing individual cortex and volume conductor models.

If EEG/ERP is a new addition to your lab, you can use EMSE to rapidly master all of the steps that can lead you to discover and visualize new phenomena in your experimental data. Have you already identified phenomena at the scalp? Then you can use source reconstruction and source signal estimation tools in EMSE to understand where and when these phenomena arise in the cortex. Going further, if you have participant MRIs, then you can use EMSE to sort out meaningful individual differences from incidental differences that derive from personal cortical folding patterns. In all cases, we can remotely assist with the steps.

EMSE is great for helping you, first, to identify robust space-time-frequency phenomena in your EEG or MEG data, and then to interpret those phenomena in brain space by constructing source models, by estimating regional activity, and by deriving inter-regional connectivities. EMSE can use MRI data to construct realistic volume conductor models of the head. Importantly, EMSE reproducibly automates and documents your analysis workflows, including: (a) signal processing pipelines; (b) experimental event logic pipelines; (c) event-related component measurements; and (d) nonparametric statistical hypothesis testing. EMSE is a professionally supported Windows application. We can remotely assist your data analysis process.

EMSE stands for ElectroMagnetic Source Estimation (and we say “MC”).